Comparison of local and general anesthesia in tension-free (Lichtenstein) hernioplasty: a prospective randomized trial

To compare pulmonary effects, postoperative pain and fatigue, morbidity, patient satisfaction, and cost of different anesthetic techniques for inguinal hernia repair, 50 patients were randomized to local and general anesthesia groups (LA and GA). All patients received the same premedications and the same postoperative analgesic regimen. The standardized postoperative analgesic, intramuscular pyroxicam 20 mg, was given to all patients in the recovery room and an additional 20 mg on the same day was given as requested by each patient. Pulmonary function studies and arterial blood gas analysis were performed 1 h prior to the operation and at the postoperative 8th and 24th hours. All patients underwent Lichtenstein's tension-free hernioplasty. Postoperative pain and fatigue were registered 8 h and 24 h after the operation. A questionnaire was filled out by the patients, and they were asked to give grades for the general comfort of the anesthesia and the surgical procedure (1=worst, 10=best). Postoperative pulmonary function tests were significantly poorer in the GA group both on 8th- and 24th-hour measurements (P<0.05). Patients who underwent LA had significantly lower PCO₂ and higher PO₂ at the postoperative 8th hour (P<0.05). Mean postoperative pain and fatigue scores revealed a significant difference in favor of local anesthesia at only the 8th hour (P<0.05). There were two complications, one in each group (a hematoma in LA and a urinary retention in GA). Patient satisfaction grades were not different in the two groups. We conclude that LA in inguinal hernia repair does not adversely affect pulmonary functions, patients feel less pain, and patient satisfaction is comparable to that with GA. Electronic Publication     

Inhibitory effect of phospholipase A2 isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom on macrophage function

Recent work demonstrated that crotoxin, the main toxin of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, inhibits macrophage spreading and phagocytic activities. The crotoxin molecule is composed of two subunits, an acidic non-toxic and non-enzymatic polypeptide named crotapotin and a weakly toxic basic phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂). In the present work, the active subunit responsible for the inhibitory effect of crotoxin on macrophage function was investigated. Peritoneal macrophages harvested from naive rats were used. Crotapotin (2.12, 3.75, or 8.37 nM/ml), added for 2 h to the medium of peritoneal cell incubation, did not modify the spreading and phagocytic activities of these cells. On the other hand, the PLA₂ (1.43, 2.86, or 6.43 nM/ml) subunit caused a significant reduction (30, 33, and 35%, respectively) of the spreading activity. The PLA₂ also inhibited the phagocytosis of opsonised zymosan, opsonised sheep erythrocytes, and Candida albicans, indicating that this inhibitory effect is not dependent on the type of receptor involved in the phagocytosis process. The inhibitory effect of PLA₂ was not due to loss of cell membrane integrity, since macrophage viability was higher than 95%. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of crotoxin on macrophage spreading and phagocytic activities is caused by the phospholipase A₂ subunit.     

Disability,depression and somatization in a low back pain population

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in a primary care setting population and examine its association with the symptoms of depression and somatization. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional study, utilising a survey carried out in primary health care clinics (PHCs) in Al‐Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A multistage stratified sampling design was used and a representative sample of 1304 UAE nationals aged 18–65 years who attended PHC clinics for any reason were included and 1103 (84.5%) subjects agreed to participate and responded to the questionnaire during a period from June 2001 to January 2002. A specially designed questionnaire with three parts was used for the data collection: socio‐demographic information of the studied subjects, modified version of the Roland‐Morris scale for evaluating back‐related functional disability and SCL‐90 R for depression and somatization subscales was used to assess depressive and somatic symptoms. Results: Of the total number of subjects surveyed (1103), 586 (53.1%) were men and 517 (46.9%) women. The mean age was 34.9 ± 13.4 years for men and 33.5 ± 11.8 years for women. The prevalence of LBP in the studied subjects was 64.7% (95% CI, 60.7–68.5] with 46.7% among men and 53.3% among women. There were a significant differences between the subjects with LBP and without LBP with respect to gender (P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001), occupational status (P < 0.001) and living environment (P = 0.016). Functional disability was higher in patients with LBP. Young patients in aged 15–34 years, patients with preparatory/secondary educational level and students showed higher depressive symptoms. A similar pattern was found in patients with somatic symptoms. Factor analysis revealed a strong association between depression and somatization in LBP patients. Conclusions: Functional disability was higher in with LBP. Furthermore, symptoms of depression and somatization are prevalent among LBP patients.     

肺癌患者红细胞免疫功能和T淋巴细胞亚群的检测及临床意义

作者对62例肺癌患者进行红细胞免疫功能及T淋巴细胞亚群测定，并与20例正常人对照。结果显示：肺癌组红细胞膜C3b受体活性（RBC－C3bRR）、CD3 、CD4 、CD4 ／CD8 比值均低于正常人（P＜0．05～0．01），红细胞膜的吸附免疫复合物（RBC－ICR）、CD8 均高于正常人（P＜0．05～0．01），因此认为红细胞免疫及T淋巴细胞亚群测定对肺癌的诊断、治疗及病情预后估计有一定价值。     

指示肺通气不均匀性的熵变及其同其他指标的理论比较

熵代表无序的水平，作者使用通气的熵变（ＥＣＶ）指示肺通气的不均匀性，ＥＣＶ定义为当前泡潮气量趋近于零时每摩尔被吸入气体从不均匀通气到均匀通气的熵变的极限。本文从熵的基本公式民地出ＥＣＶ的计算方程。用几个数学模型肺将ＥＣＶ同其他７个洗出指标进行了比较。８个指标中，只有ＥＣＶ仅取决于通气分布，其他７个指标不仅取决于通气分布，还同潮气量和死腔的大小有关。这影响了它们评价肺通气不均匀性的效果，ＥＣＶ的另一     

小檗碱对兔颈动脉粥样硬化中内膜增生和巨噬细胞趋化作用的影响

目的观察小檗碱对家兔颈动脉粥样硬化的内膜中膜比和巨噬细胞变化的影响。方法24只雄性日本大耳白兔随机分为3个试验组,正常组每天肌肉注射生理盐水,普通饲料喂养,对照组高脂喂养,1周后行颈动脉内膜空气干燥术并每日肌肉注射生理盐水,小檗碱干预组高脂喂养,1周后行颈动脉内膜空气干燥术并肌肉注射小檗碱,5周时取手术侧的颈动脉做弹力纤维染色,计算内膜中膜比;巨噬细胞免疫组化检测巨噬细胞在颈动脉粥样硬化病变中的变化,计算巨噬细胞的阳性率。结果对照组内膜厚度明显增加,中膜萎缩变薄,经计算I/M为1.20±0.007,小檗碱组的I/M为0.65±0.008。两组间有显著差异(P<0.01);巨噬细胞免疫组化染色对照组内膜下和中膜有大量巨噬细胞,小檗碱干预组内膜和中膜下也可以见有巨噬细胞沉积,通过计算巨噬细胞阳性率,小檗碱干预组的巨噬细胞阳性率明显小于对照组(P<0.01)。结论小檗碱可以降低家兔颈动脉粥样硬化中的血管内膜厚度、减少粥样斑块中的巨噬细胞数目,从而干预颈动脉粥样硬化的形成。     

修正正交分段线性函数及其在线性与时变线性系统中应用

把分段线性函数和斜波脉冲函数进行统一处理，定义成新的函数，使得新的函数既保持了原先两种函数的基本特性，又获得微分和积分递推算法。应用中具有方便，快速计算的优点。     

328. Mechanismen der langzeitakzeptanz allogener rattenlebertransplantate: makrophagenaustausch und suppressorzellaktivierung

Summary After orthotopic rat liver transplantation in the fully allogeneic BN (RT-1n) to LEW (RT-11) combination, the phenomenon of spontaneous tolerance of donor antigen occurs. We demonstrate two different immune mechanisms that may account for this process. Using adoptive transfer assays we show the presence of donor-specific T-suppressor lymphocytes in the spleens of long-term surviving liver graft, recipients. These cells prolong - adoptively transferred into irradiated syngeneic hosts — the survival of donor-specific (BN) but not third-party (DA) renal allografts (I00 days vs 1I days in control groups). Secondly, we demonstrate the replacement of Kupffer cells in the graft by recipient macrophages using polymorphic monoclonal antibodies in an immunoperoxidase technique. This may contribute to graft adaptation and thus to long-term graft acceptance.     

Control accuracy and response time in multiple-state myoelectric control of upper-limb prostheses. Initial results in nondisabled volunteers

In myoelectrically operated prosthetic systems control performance decreases with an increasing number of possible movements. A test has been designed that allows quantification of two related qualities of performance. A predefined amount of training was given to 40 nondisabled volunteers without previous prosthetic experience. After training they attempted the test. The two parameters measured were the response time and the control accuracy corresponding to the different movements. It is concluded that even with a very limited amount of training fairly complex control systems can be operated with acceptable performance.